Corruption in Pakistan and need for accountability

According to Transparency International Pakistan (TIP), Pakistan has lost an unbelievably high amount, more than Rs8,500 billion (Rs8.5 trillion or US$94 billion), in corruption, tax evasion and bad governance during the last four years of Zardari-led Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s tenure.

Corruption has increased in recent years at alarming level. It is a crosscutting and devastating phenomenon; be it economic, social, political or cultural. The incumbent PPP government, supported by MQM, PMLQ and ANP has broken its own records of corruption. Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty around the country. Pakistan has a backward economy, political instability, and corruption at all levels of society and government. Pervasive corruptions reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government, private investments and finally alienate the citizens from their Government. It undermines society and development and the poor are hard hit. Corrupt Government, and corrupt politicians are never serious about weeding out corruption and lacking in political will are the common refrains on the lips of every Pakistani today. There is corruption in each and every segment of our society.

The people of Pakistan nowadays tolerate corruption. They do not expect that they will ever see a change. In fact, corruption in Pakistan is now considered a way of life that cannot be avoided or eradicated. It has been institutionalized. In every private or public institution corruption is practiced shamelessly. What is particularly awe- inspiring is that the extent and level of corruption has today left no aspect of public life untouched. But more alarming is the manner in which it impinges on the daily life of the people, virtually drawing each one into its clutches. We cannot just pinpoint anyone; it occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, lower judiciary functions, large and small businesses, bureaucracy and other services and so on. Given the absence of a transparent system, bribery and other irregularities are common. An interesting thing is that in the economically powerful nations with the most money in “play”, where there have been some significant financial seismic activity the perception of corruption isalmost zero.

Corruption has been highlighted as the main reason behind slow, poor quality and faulty services in the country. Corruption affects the poorest the most, though all elements of society are affected in some way as corruption undermines political development, democracy, economic development, the environment, people’s health and more. Today the 180 million plus people of our country are not affected only by the top level corruption, what affects them equally in their daily lives is when they have to get their daily needs, like a electricity or gas connection or a water connection or get admission in the school etc., they have to grease somebody’s palms, pay a bribe to get these things. That is what harasses them. At a national level, people’s effective participation and representation in society is undermined by corruption, while at local levels, corruption makes day to day lives more painful for all affected. Why should I just say politicians or bureaucrats? Today, be it an educationist or a lawyer or a doctor or business tycoons or NGOs or media houses – every segment at any level – there is corruption. Even there are certain government establishments where the simple transfer of an employee from one place to another reportedly needs large sums of money to be given to a higher authority. It is also well known that in some of the public departments every subordinate officer gives a fixed amount to his higher authority as a share of illegally earned money which is shameful.

Our bureaucrats also attempt to increase their level of compensation by lobbying lawmakers and politicians and by engaging in other activities to influence the political system and maximize benefits accruing to them. Many civil servants also illegally increase their compensation by providing services to interest groups that seek favors from the government. Incompetence and inefficiency among civil servants have been given as other institutional issues associated with bureaucratic corruption in Africa. Sustainable economic and social development requires an efficient and professional civil service. To effectively carry out national development plans and promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the economy, the government bureaucracy must be responsive to the needs of the entrepreneurial class.

Without a doubt, the current regime is the most corrupt, incompetent, civilian government may be in the history of the world. I can’t think of any that were openly thieves like these people are. Nepotism and favoritism are also common in this Government. In almost every institution the nearest relatives of party men or people from the party’s area are being employed or given benefits, regardless of competency or rules and procedure; even the appointment of High Court judges sometimes proceeds in a similar way. Under the present system the parliament has become an institution that is inefficient and that abets corruption. Violation of the constitution and Supreme Court judgments is order of the day; not only an anti-state offence but may be considered falling within the category of corruption. The judiciary also condones such offences merely to save the “system”. Pakistan is a poor country but from looking at the facilities awarded to parliamentarians, high officials and senior government officers nobody would think so. Tax-free prestigious cars, allocations of land in the capital city, concession air tickets and other benefits are among a few of the things given to those persons on the pretext that they are the people’s representatives or public servants. This so-called lawful corruption can only be curbed if the good conscience of the beneficiaries is knocked.
Having keen interest in economy, I have done and looked at the input and output content of the Pak economy, and I have never seen an economy with a kind of black holes like that of Pakistan. We produce cotton, yet our textile units are not working; we can produce crude oil, we import petroleum products; we have largest coal reserves, yet we don’t have power plant in public sector. We have iron ore, we have destroyed our steel plant….. and so on. All the footprints of these black holes lead to polluted intents of our political leaders.

Lack of accountability makes corruption easily and frequently exercised. Greed, self interest, the wish to be rich without doing anything, the high ambition of less-qualified persons, and avarice are the main causes. Persons in power who are responsible for good governance and keeping the organs of state and the society free from corruption are themselves mostly greedy, selfish, corrupt and incompetent. This is why it is really difficult to combat or eliminate corruption. It is possible to combat corruption and reduce its negative impact only if there is a political will that exists, which is credible to attract a genuine support of all stakeholders in the government, the civil society, and the private sector to attack both passive and active corruption. In Pakistan no political will seems exist.
The politicians also failed to bring legislation to introduce a unanimous accountability mechanism to check the rampant corruption. The divergent viewpoint of Government and opposition failed to reach at some consensus and hence the parliament failed to legislate on the pending National Accountability Commission draft bill pending with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice for past well over three years. In fact Government had never been sincere to establish an independent accountability apparatus and was creating hurdles in the passage of the law to establish National Accountability Commission. This Commission should be immediately formed and made to work with credibility and success in fighting corruptions. It also needs clearly defined and unambiguous tools in hand to succeed instead of being a “failed agency”. Commission must investigate all complains with equal and unbiased importance too.

Most of Pakistani leaders are exploiting the country’s resources for their own benefit rather than for the local masses. The rich mineral resources in Balochistan and Sindh are benefiting the ruling elite. Transparency and accountability are not observed. Rule of law is almost absent. The leaders are institutions themselves. They lead extravagant lives, wear expensive clothes and perfumes, own fleets of expensive cars and dine abroad while the electorate sleep hungry, cannot afford medication and die of famine. It needs an overhaul. Corruption can never be eliminated until political will is shown by those holding state power want to deal with it. We know that state power is exercised and regulated by politicians. To eliminate corruption, greedy and dishonest politicians must be discarded. Honesty, integrity, dedication, nobility and patriotism must be the qualifications to elect a political leader.

There is a need to recognize that the issue of fighting corruption touches the heart of the Pakistani people. In fact corruption arises from the concentration of power in the hands of a few politicians and bureaucrats, and that a process which provides citizens with greater access to public institutions will significantly minimize opportunities for corruption within the country. Further, If the political leaders set the example in letting go of luxury living patterns or extravagance, then the people also would be inspired to learn to be content with their basic needs instead of desiring excessive wealth or luxuries. The people do not fail to see the irony of their own plight with the striking affluence of the elite classes, who attain new mileposts in discovering ever so fresh ways to increase their profits through influence over policy and decision making, while taking recourse to corrupt practices. The duplicity of running for public office in the lust for private gain never stood out more sharply. Just imagine, if a police officer, public servant or judicial officer is recruited through payment of money or other illegal gratification, how can that officer or employee be expected to render honest service to the nation?

Corruption remains widespread in the country and there have been many instances of political and bureaucratic corruption, public funds embezzlement, fraudulent procurement practices, and judicial corruption. The government should put in place a well developed legal and institutional framework and a system must be developed which will not be friendly to corruption. Absolute power and a lack of accountability make plenty of scope for corruption which needs revisit. The Supreme Court, in particular, has taken a firm stance against corruption in recent years and made several important rulings. Whoever’s assets and wealth is found having been acquired by way of corruption or misappropriation should be confiscated. Citizen’s access to government information may be ensured. Furthermore, incompetent and corrupt officials must be removed from key posts, to create an atmosphere in which it might be possible to rehabilitate honest and competent persons to run the polity with a view to ensure democracy and the rule of law. Educating public with anti-corruption messages in the news media and displaying bill boards etc., nationwide could yet be another important tool during this process. We need to recognize that once public sectors are not engaged in corruptions, there can not be any alarming corruption. This is another strong argument for privatization of public enterprises!

Preventing corruption before being committed could be another effective strategy by assessing potential or actual conflicts of interests of the public officials, bureaucratic, elected officials and others involved in the “Points of interest”. Governments must include anti-corruption measures in their development strategies if progress is to be made in this field. Laws delegating the sensitivity on conflicts of interest, declaration of assets, sources of income of the elected officials, their immediate family members (spouse, children, brother, sisters, in-laws etc.) could be introduced before taking office or accepting any public service position. Government must draft effective law preventing and fighting money laundering schemes too. A monitoring cell may be established to look through overall performance of Government’s anticorruption measures and action plans. Government could also curb the opportunities of corruption by reducing bureaucratic red tapes and authority, introducing information technology traps to locate and apprehend violators as well as giving out options those could provide multiple alternatives to citizens during their interactions with public officials. It is also essential that citizens have reasonable access to the “points of contact” for reporting corruption.

However, Government action will not be enough.  The people should get out of their homes and take over the Pakistan to curb this endemic cancer that has devastated Pakistani society and impoverished millions of people. They will have to show their anger, their frustration and their disappointment in the streets through peaceful demonstrations. They should not sit down in their homes and actively participate in the fight against corruption. It is time for action.